Earlier this year, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan had claimed that Jon Jones was looking for a $30 million payout to face Tom Aspinall. While the news sent shockwaves through the MMA sphere, the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) host later clarified, “And I did hear that rumor, and I did hear that the UFC said yes. But it is not true, Dana contacted me and said that rumor is bull—-” So, if it’s not about the money, what’s the hold-up?
That’s the million-dollar question! Fans have been itching to see a title unification bout between ‘Bones’ and Aspinall. Even UFC boss Dana White recently stated, “The heavyweight fight will happen. Just relax, I’ll announce that soon.” Now, with Aspinall’s interim title reign already having surpassed a record-breaking 536 days, one of MMA’s most outspoken minds may have just cracked the code behind all the confusion!
Chael Sonnen lays out the convoluted reasoning behind the Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall fight delay
According to Chael Sonnen, everything comes down to one thing: respect. How? In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained that the domino effect began when Jon Jones tore his pectoral tendon and had to pull out of UFC 295.
As such, when fans asked why Miocic wasn’t offered an interim belt fight instead of waiting for ‘Bones’ to heal, Sonnen revealed, “Dana White made it clear nothing was said, we did not even call and offer an interim title shot to Stipe. We canceled the fight letting Stipe know that his undisputed shot against Jon Jones, even if down the road, would still take place. So an interim belt was too… it lacked respect, it was too beneath Stipe”
And that, apparently, is where the mess begins, as Jones might be playing that same card. According to the UFC veteran and analyst, “What if Jon Jones said, ‘I’m not going to fight for an interim belt’.” Suddenly, the logic flips on its head. Why was Stipe Miocic excused from the chaos, but not Jones?
And here’s where it gets even more tangled as Sonnen further shared, “It’s the same exact thing, and I’m not fighting for the interim belt, I fight for the undisputed belt and they say, ‘But Jon, you already have the undisputed belt.” And Jon says, ‘Which is why I’m not going to fight’”
March 4, 2023, Las Vegas, NV, LAS VEGAS, NV, USA: LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 4: Jon Jones prepares to fight Ciryl Gane in their Heavyweight fight during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 4, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Las Vegas, NV USA – ZUMAp175 20230304_zsa_p175_251 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
So is that the answer that has kept the heavyweight division stuck in limbo for so long? If Jones takes the fight against Aspinall, that’s not just a defense. It’s a challenge to his entire reign. Another twist to this story? Jones was recently spotted talking to his old friend and Russian MMA promoter Kamil Gadzhiev in a leaked video, which was uploaded to the Russian YouTube channel ‘Ushatayka’.
In the video, Jones claims that he’s “done” when Gadzhiev said that the undisputed heavyweight champion still has 10 years left in his career. What made the situation even more concerning is a cryptic post on X where ‘Bones’ also claimed that, “I told UFC my plans a long time ago,” and that he has no idea why the fans haven’t been made aware of them!
And just like that, the silence around Jon Jones turned from cryptic to crushing. Fans are left decoding tweets. UFC insiders are coming up with theories to explain the situation. And Tom Aspinall? He’s stuck in limbo, and it’s taking a toll on the interim heavyweight champion.
Aspinall shares a glimpse of his mental struggles while waiting for ‘Bones’
While Jon Jones kicks back in Thailand, filming reality shows and teasing retirement, Tom Aspinall waits with his gloves on. Still unsure if the biggest fight of his career will ever happen. But how long can a fighter stay ready for a war that may never come?
During his appearance on the ‘Mighty Cast’ with MMA legend Demetrious Johnson, the British champion confessed, “Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from wait.”
For the reigning interim heavyweight champion, this isn’t unfamiliar territory. Aspinall’s body once betrayed him in London in 2022, robbing him of a win and nearly derailing his dreams with a knee injury. But injuries have recovery timelines, as he further shared, “The doctor said I’ve got to do this in two weeks or in two months I can start grappling. I constantly had little goals to work towards. Whereas now it’s just like, ‘Just be ready and we’ll just let you know.’”
Dana White continues to promise the fight will happen without any concrete timeline. And for Aspinall, that’s the true test, as he revealed, “It’s kind of difficult mentally, but this is the fight against Jon Jones. The fight is another thing, this is the tricky bit where I really have to stay switched on…”
In the Octagon, Tom Aspinall can handle anything. But the mental weight of waiting for a ghost? That’s a different kind of fight altogether. And it’s one he’s quietly waging, every single day. What do you think? Is Jon Jones protecting his throne, or preparing to walk away from it altogether? Let us know in the comments below!
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